Adjustable blind for windows



Oct. 18, 1949. cy'A. DIGBY 2,485,263

ADJUSTABLE BLIND FOR WINDOWS Filed July 8, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 34 [me/Ito! g v g 36 saw/v 4.. olasr W I I, tomeys Oct. 18, 1949. c. -A. DIGBY ADJUSTABLE BLIND FOR WINDOWS Filed July 8, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M M l v Nil FIG. 4 2

CAL IN A. 0/68) By- @WML Patented Oct. 18, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

My invention consists of new and useful improvements in adjustable blinds for windows and in its more specific form relates to an attachment for the rear windows of automobiles.

The principal purposes of the invention reside in providing a mechanism which may be readily installed or removed from windows; which is easily operable to regulate the quantity of light passing through a window, with the intention of minimizing glare, and controlling the entry of sunlight; wherein the advantages of Venetian blinds may be realized in a portable and readily adaptable device; and to provide easy visibility from within but capable of obstructing visibility from without a vehicle.

Other subordinate objects of the invention consist in efiecting in a construction conforming to the foregoing purposes of my invention, an improved means for securing movable slats to a blind holder whereby they may be controllably positioned in any desired adjustment; may be easily removed for cleaning or repairs; and may be operated in an expeditious manner.

Further ancillary objects of the invention comprise the provision of an attachment which is of simple and inexpensive construction, may be quickly installed in various environments and is durable and efficient for the purposes intended.

These, together with numerous other objects of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by my device, two embodiments of'which have been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the interior of an automobile showing my invention applied to a window thereof;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the invention;

Figure 3 is an end view of the attachment;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a detail view in vertical section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a locking pin forming an element of the invention; and

Figure 7 is a side elevation of agmdified form of the blind holding arm.

In the accompanying drawings, l designates generally the improved blind attachment forming the subject of this invention, which as illustrated in Figure 1, is attached in a window frame [2, which as shown, may comprise but is not necessarily restricted to an automobile window. A plurality of standards [4 preferably of angle irons with flanges l6 at one end, slidingly engage similar members l8, flanged at their outer ends 'as at 20. A longitudinal slot 22 is formed in one side of each member l8 for the sliding reception of a fastening device such as screw and nut 24 attached to the standards l4.

By the foregoing construction, each standard may be adjustably extended to snugly engage within the frame l2 of the window, being retained therein by the frictional engagement of the flanges I6, 20 or by any suitable fasteners therethrough, such as screws or the like, not shown. The standards l4 may then be expeditiously adjusted for accommodation to varying sizes of windows.

At suitably longitudinally spaced intervals along the standards are journalled at 26 a plurality of arms 28. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, each arm 28 is axially and arcuately slotted at 30 for the removable reception of a blind of the Venetian type, which may be of thin, flexible material, such as steel or plastic. If desired, the slats may be curved to correspond to the shape of the slot or they may be planar and flexed to accommodate themselves to the arcuate slot 30, whereby their natural resilience will assist in retaining them in the slots. Alternatively, or in conjunction with the foregoing, the slats are secured in position in their associated arms by keys 34 which as shown in Figure 6, have reduced portions in the form of a groove 36 intermediate the ends of the rod-like keys.

This groove is snugly received in a notch 38 intermediate one surface of the slot 30 and the cylindrical surfaces of the key 34 press and detachably retain the slats 32 in their respective slots. From the foregoing, it will be seen that the slats may be individually removed for cleaning or repairs as desired.

As shown best in Figure 4, I preferably provide a manual operating means for simultaneously varying the inclination of each of the slats in order to control the quantity and intensity of the light passing through the blind. A lever 40 is pivoted to a standard at 42 and is fulcrumed at I02 and a fulcrum portion I04. An aperture W6 is provided for oscillatably connecting the arm I00 with the angle iron standards 14 of Figures 3 and 4, while apertures H18 provide an attaching means for the synchronizing rod 36 of Figure 4. The member I02 has a recess H0 having an arcuate surface and having undercut lips or flanges H2. It is intended in this form, that a normally flat strip is flexed laterally and its edges engaged beneath flanges H2. When the flexing pressure is released, the blind tends to straighten and its resiliency securely retains it, in an arcuate shape, in the recess 1 it. This embodiment may be deemed preferable, simpler and of more economical construction.

Since it will be evident that the principles of my invention may be practiced b various forms of construction, I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown and described above,

but may avail myself of any suitable modifications falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an adjustable blind for windows of the type comprising standards adapted to be secured to a window, a plurality of arms connected to the standards at spaced intervals and slats supported by the arms, characterized by the fact that the slats are resilient and the free portions of the arms are provided with means for receiving and H 3. In an adjustable blind for windows of the type comprising standards adapted to be secured to a window, a plurality of arms connected t the standards at spaced intervals and slats supported 4 by the arms, characterized by the fact that the slats are resilient and the free portions of the arms are provided with recesses having overhanging flanges for receiving and holding said slats in arcuate flexed shape.

4. In an adjustable blind for windows of the type comprising standards adapted to be secured to a window, a pluralit of arms connected to the standards at spaced intervals and slats supported by the arms, characterized by the fact that the slats are resilient, the arms are provided with slots, a notch intermediate 3. surface of each slot, and the slats are positioned in and held under pressure in the slots by keys disposed in the notches.

5. In an adjustable blind for windows of the type comprising standards adapted to be secured to a window, a plurality of arms pivoted to the standards at spaced intervals, slats supported by the arms and a single actuating means for regulating the position of the arms, characterized by the fact that the free major portions of the arms are provided with axial and arcuate slots, a notch intermediate a surface of each slot, and the end portions of the slats being positioned in and held under pressure in the slots by keys disposed in said notches, said keys having annular grooves, intermediate their ends for holding them in a predetermined position in said notches.

CALVIN A. DIGBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 19,617 Van Dresser Jun 18, 1935 881,433 Mitchell Mar. 10, 1908 1,813,017 Bond July 7, 1931 2,210,624 Kramer Aug. 6, 1940 2,349,470 Stanfield May 23, 1944 

